This could be vegetarian if I had vegetable broth in the house. I did not, so I used chicken broth.

My back is not feeling the best, due to a bend-and-hug that turned into a hug-and-hang. I'm typing this standing up. Every movement is taking more effort than I want, and I'm a wee bit cranky.

I didn't make it the store, and needed to make due with stuff we had in the house. I was certain that I had a bag of green lentils in the pantry, and was totally bummed to realize that the bag actually was filled with split peas. I used them anyway.

Chop up the vegetables to desired size, and throw them in the pot. Rinse the beans, and add. Add the split peas. Cover with broth, and stir in the spices.

Cook on low for 7-9 hours, or on high for 4-5. Soup tastes better the longer it cooks.

The Verdict.

I had read somewhere that dill enhanced soups and stews and it was an under-utilized spice. I threw some in, and immediately regretted it, but decided to climb back in bed with the heating pad hope for the best.

I think the dill works. It tastes too strong if the broth isn't salty enough---so salt and pepper to taste.

Then you can eat it without feeling like you're eating the guinea pigs alfalfa hay.

My kids fished out the stuff they liked, but mostly ate Toquitos for dinner.

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25 comments:

Barrie
said...

Aw I hope your back feels better. One time I was making the bed and I lifted the mattress to fix the sheets and threw my back out :( I had to lay on the floor for a couple of hours until someone got home to help me up... :(

I certainly hope you get to feeling better soon(!), but I must tell you that your post made me laugh loud! You have such a wonderful way with words. :-) And thanks for taking the time to keep your resolution all year long. Thanks to you, I've developed a budding romance with my crockpot. :-)

The hang and hug is the worst. My 2 girls are about the same ages as your two. My 6 year old seems mostly over it. Thanks goodness since she weighs a ton but the 3 1/2 year old thinks it's fantastic. I never knew that I could have a sore back in my 30's, then I had kids... I hope you feel better, I know that pain, it's not fun and the kids don't cut you any slack bacause you don't feel good. Rest up and give yourself a break. Peach Betty in the crockpot maybe or packaged brownies in the crock pot? Feel better!

Oh no, back pain is never fun. Hope you have a good chiropractor! I'm a massage therapist, but would try a good adjustment first.Anyways hope you feel better! Oh and try some ice packs in between the heat sessions! :)

Sorry about your back, hope it heals quickly! Back pain is the worst! :(

I must say, I love using dill, but mainly on potato dishes and in the oyster cracker snack mix. I have a container I mixed dried parsley, dill and dried cilantro in to use in potato dishes, soups and casseroles. It is also good on chicken with lemon pepper, lemon juice and garlic italian marinade (or zesty italian dressing) in the crock!

So sorry to hear about your back. sending out BIG get well wishes...so that you can get happily back to your wonderful dishes! Thanks for being a LIFESAVER!off to make one of your Autumn Sausage Cassarole now...

Oh, the "hug-and-hang!" Thanks for giving a name to this treacherous back breaker. As another with a fickle back, I hope you feel better soon. Ice packs, exercises and a decent chriopractor has usually been helpful for me.

I just wanted to tell you how much I loved this stew! My version of it anyway- I did like you and just used what I had in the house- (1 can of black beans, 1 can of garbanzo beans, 1 cup of yellow split peas and 1 cup of lentils) I didn't have any veggies on hand so I just used an extra couple of potatoes. I skipped the dill and added 1 envelope of good seasons dry Italian dressing mix. So good! Esp. with a little shredded pepper jack on top. :)